The Mailsort menu is in the Word Processing module. It contains two functions, 'Update Mailsort files' and 'Update Company SSCs'.

This function will be used once when you first set up a database, and then again only when the Post Office issue new Mailsort files on disk. Before updating in future to any version other than the 'Mailsort Database 93' you should check with Vector that the Post Office has changed the data only - if the basic setups of the system have altered as well, you would need a Enterprise upgrade. When obtaining new files from the Post Office, you should request them in ASCII text tab delimited format, not fixed format.There are four Mailsort files, known to Enterprise as Mailsort File A, B, C and D respectively. These are supplied on disk as MSORTA.DAT, MSORTB.DAT, MSORTC.DAT and MSORTD.DAT. File B contains the Residue Codes, while File C contains the Post Towns and File D the information needed for geographic sorting. The function will simply import each in turn, asking you to locate each disk file when it is ready.When the above process has been completed you are then prompted to automatically launch the second function 'Update Company SSCs'.

This function is used to update the Mailsort Standard Selection Code of any Companies entered to Enterprise prior to the installation of the Mailsort companion module.First, you are prompted to make a selection of Companies in the usual fashion. Please refer to View Companies section of the Companies reference for more details. After you accept the selection of Companies by clicking [ Ö] in the Buttons Palette, Enterprise will then update the SSC of each Company.

Preferences

The Other page of Preferences in the Data Manager contains some options which will act as a default for the Mailsort Requirements dialogue box. The screen appears as follows:

Minimum Bag Size

This represents the Mailsort minimum number of items in a Direct mailing bag - usually 25 for letters or 5 for packets. As this preference is intended to set a default, it should be set to the more common of your Mailsort requirements.

Process Undersized Directs

Again, this Preference is merely setting a default which will appear in the Mailsort Requirements dialogue box. If this check box is switched on, and the default is accepted at that dialogue box, Enterprise will make use of a special system that allows Residue Bags to be converted to Direct bags if they contain only one Direct code. This is beneficial, but takes longer to process.

Mailsort Service

Again, this Preference is merely setting a default which will appear in the Mailsort Requirements dialogue box. At that dialogue box, this defines which of the possible Mailsort Services are to be used for the current mailing. An list of available services is brought up when you click in this field.